Physically I was able to try and pull on those times of rest, but my mind (as will be the story of my bloody life and no doubt this blog) kept overflowing with endless lists of what once again, I should and could be doing with my 'free time' (LOL)

It's a lot of things to miss about being with M all the time, and I guess it's a kind of grief that I'm experiencing. Mourning my maternity leave. But then, I'm so very grateful, that I have those things to miss. That I have been blessed with the opportunity to be a mummy, and to spend 9 blissful months with my girl.

Premature babies are babies for longer. Born early they develop according to their 'corrected' age, which is calculated according to their due date rather than their birth date. This sees parents returning to work when their babies are still physically and emotionally less developed in comparison to babies born on or near their due date.

Premature babies are babies for longer. Born early they develop according to their 'corrected' age, which is calculated according to their due date rather than their birth date. This sees parents returning to work when their babies are still physically and emotionally less developed in comparison to babies born on or near their due date.

Her assessment that maternity leave is one continuous succession of feeding and bottom wiping is inaccurate and must be addressed if we are to value parental leave as something which has a benefit to society.

Maternity protection costs - it can cost governments and businesses, but without it (as the world stands now) we run the risk of excluding half the population from the workforce, which is far more costly.

The alarming level of maternity discrimination in this country is compounding this problem. Many new mums are afraid to take time off work. These archaic business attitudes remain embedded in the dark ages; one that values presence over performance.

My first instinct when discovering that we will now leave the EU was dismay and shock. Next was concern: what lies ahead? Nobody can say. There are certainly lots of things to worry about. But as managing director of an executive coaching consultancy that specialises in Parental Transition coaching, my biggest concern was that the far-sighted parental rights won over the last 40 years, and which now contribute so much to workplace gender equality, might unravel.

At home we can be together, no monitors or alarms.
For the first time in forever I begin to be your mum.
I feel the pain we've been through, I stop to take a breath.
I realise now, what other NICU mums will know, my journey has just begun.

Our gender pay gap - which leaves British women earning an average of 17.4% less than men in similar full-time jobs - places us 15th out of the 22 countries measured. In first-placed New Zealand, the gap is 5.6%.

If you are anything like I was, you'll be counting down the days until your maternity leave starts. You are probably feeling like the side of a bus, needing a wee approximately every seven minutes and have the temperament of a warthog with a wasp up its nose. You. Need. A. Break.

Whilst no-one seems against the concept of a career sabbatical for non-parents that Foye suggested and more enlightened employers are offering widening flexi-options for staff, many appeared upset at the way she equated maternity leave to a time for self growth, fun or relaxation.

A lot can happen in nine months, but even more can happen in a year. That's why the decision to take a whole year out to bring up baby was a no-brainer for me. When I heard today that only one in a hundred men have taken up paternity leave, I can't say it shocked me.

The policy's main criticism so far is that the number of new fathers signing up is low, with many blaming cultural stereotypes for their hesitation. Employers need to address this by making role models more visible and openly communicating the available options around shared parental leave.

My time was up, 365 long, exhausting and beautiful days had passed, it was time to resume duty, resurrect the old me. I decided that returning part-time would give me the best balance possible. Four days with baby, three days with normal people, no more time with the NCT massive! But which three days should I work? Well here's my science...

Unless we all learn to manage maternity and paternity differently, treat mothers-to-be with greater respect and address the many levels of bias we hold, I believe the corporate world will always struggle to retain its top female talent.

I've been in the Marketing industry for six years and have two kids under five. I would never call myself a career woman but I know I could never be a stay at home mum either. I love my kids to the moon and back and believe I take better care of them (and myself!) if I'm not in the picture all the time. It also means I enjoy and make the most of the time we have together.

The bits and pieces of your former professional life spilled out all over the freeway, and there you are, dodging through lanes of oncoming traffic to try to pick it back up and make it all function again.